National Center for Asphalt Technology - NCAT

National Center for Asphalt Technology - NCAT The National Center for Asphalt Technology is a leading research facility advancing asphalt pavement performance and sustainability.

Through cutting-edge studies, innovation, and training, NCAT drives solutions for the asphalt industry’s future.

06/04/2026

How do engineers evaluate whether an asphalt mix can hold up against a specific kind of damage?

With the Hamburg, of course!

Our latest Training in 90 Seconds video gives a quick walkthrough of the Hamburg Wheel Tracking Test (HWTT) and how it helps evaluate an asphalt mix’s resistance to moisture damage and rutting, bringing us one step closer to the highest-quality asphalt pavement for your roads.

Explore all of NCAT’s Training in Your Pocket in 90-second videos at the link below!

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLt8LM6pcZvaJyxeEXcszeU2Py0JrZTWIg&si=Ldii_1BT900czvI0

Safer roads start from the ground up. Pavements play a critical role in roadway safety through friction, surface textur...
06/03/2026

Safer roads start from the ground up.

Pavements play a critical role in roadway safety through friction, surface texture, rumble strips, SafetyEdge technology, and other features that help drivers stay in control and recover from mistakes.

In his message for the latest edition of Asphalt Technology News, NCAT Director Randy West explores the critical role pavements play in roadway safety.

The newest issue covers topics including urban pavement preservation, high-RAP workshops, New Mexico chip seals, and more research and implementation efforts shaping the future of asphalt pavements.

Read the latest edition at the link below.
https://www.eng.auburn.edu/research/centers/ncat/newsroom/2026-spring/letter.html

The special 40th edition of Asphalt Technology News is now available! 🎉Explore the latest in asphalt pavement research a...
06/01/2026

The special 40th edition of Asphalt Technology News is now available! 🎉

Explore the latest in asphalt pavement research and implementation from NCAT, including RAP binder characterization, high-stress pavement performance, urban pavement preservation, chip seal design, and balanced mix design testing.

Check out the latest edition, along with previous issues of Asphalt Technology News, at the link below:
https://eng.auburn.edu/research/centers/ncat/research/newsletters/

05/21/2026

Ever wonder how engineers measure pavement texture?

At NCAT, we use tests like the Sand Patch Test to evaluate pavement macrotexture, or the roughness of an asphalt surface. Why does it matter? Texture plays a major role in skid resistance, drainage, ride quality, and long-term pavement performance.

Watch this quick “how-to” to see the Sand Patch Test in action and learn why it matters beneath your wheels.

05/15/2026

Happy National Asphalt Day!

Most people drive over asphalt without a second thought. And that's the goal! Every road tells a story of research, hard work, innovation, and the people who keep our world moving.

At NCAT, we’re proud to work with so many amazing groups and people to help build safer, smoother, longer-lasting pavements for communities everywhere.

It takes a great group to do great work. Thank you to everyone who helped make the NCAT & MnROAD Spring 2026 Sponsor Mee...
05/14/2026

It takes a great group to do great work. Thank you to everyone who helped make the NCAT & MnROAD Spring 2026 Sponsor Meeting one to remember!

Collaboration and shared commitment to advancing asphalt research continue to drive meaningful progress across the industry. Our partners and sponsors are a driving force, and we are honored every day to turn research into real-world, implementable impact with them!

05/13/2026

What a week in Auburn! The NCAT & MnROAD Spring 2026 Sponsor Meeting brought two packed days of discussions advancing asphalt pavement research and implementation, covering test sections with balanced mix design, surface properties, additives, and more - plus a tour of the Test Track!

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make it all possible!

Hear from NCAT Director Randy West and Shawn Jack (WVDOH) during next Thursday’s From Research to Implementation Webinar...
05/13/2026

Hear from NCAT Director Randy West and Shawn Jack (WVDOH) during next Thursday’s From Research to Implementation Webinar Series as they explore the critical role of tack coat bond strength in pavement performance.

The webinar will cover how bond strength testing is used in research, forensic investigations and construction quality assurance, along with why proper tack coat application matters in the field.

Join us May 21 from 10–11 a.m. CT and register today.
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From our first editions in the 80s & 90s to the upcoming 40th issue, NCAT's magazine, Asphalt Technology News, has docum...
05/12/2026

From our first editions in the 80s & 90s to the upcoming 40th issue, NCAT's magazine, Asphalt Technology News, has documented and shared decades of research, innovation, and progress in the asphalt industry.

A lot has changed over the years, but the mission remains the same: delivering practical research and real-world impact to readers across the country and around the world.

The next edition is coming soon. 👀 Sign up to receive the magazine in your inbox at https://signup.e2ma.net/signup/1759138/1730370/

At NCAT, our core values run deep.Safety. Family. Integrity. Research.And occasionally, they’re pulled straight from the...
05/11/2026

At NCAT, our core values run deep.

Safety. Family. Integrity. Research.

And occasionally, they’re pulled straight from the pavement. 😉

Those values guide the research, testing, and implementation work we do every day to improve asphalt pavements for agencies, industry, and everyone on their daily commute. Learn more at ncat.us.

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